Device for cleaning glass or like surfaces

ABSTRACT

The handle of a window cleaning device has a opening through which a squeeze bottle for water protrudes. A vaporizing chamber is partially embedded in a heat conductive core associated with one or more heating elements and forms at one end a dispensing nozzle continuously open to ambient atmosphere. The squeeze bottle is adapted to dispense cleaning fluid such as water into the vaporizing chamber wherein it is vaporized and subsequently discharged as a high velocity vapor through the nozzle. A wiper blade is attached to the device adjacent the discharge nozzle to strike off the condensed vapor formed on a window or like surface for cleaning purposes.

United States Patent 1,767,079 6/1930 Kenyon Inventor Roger Chastanier11 bis rue Rouget de l'lsle, Asnleres, Hauts de Selne, France Appl. No.847,635 Filed Aug. 5, 1969 Patented June 15, 1971 Priority Aug. 6, 1968,Mar. 24, 1969 France 162.007 and 69.08544 DEVICE FOR CLEANING GLASS ORLIKE SURFACES Primary ExaminerLawrence Charles Attorney-Imirie andSmiley ABSTRACT: The handle of a window cleaning device has a openingthrough which a squeeze bottle for water protrudes. A vaporizing chamberis partially embedded in a heat conductive core associated with one ormore heating elements and forms at one end a dispensing nozzlecontinuously open to ambient atmosphere. The squeeze bottle is adaptedto dispense cleaning fluid such as water into the vaporizing chamberwherein it is vaporized and subsequently discharged as a high velocityvapor through the nozzle. A wiper blade is attached to the deviceadjacent the discharge nozzle to strike off the condensed vapor formedon a window or like surface for cleaning purposes.

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AWE/Wm Koqm A. H CHAQTA mm PATENTED JUN] 51% 3. 584', 9655 SHEET 2 OF 2FoqERAffiCHASTA/v/ER DEVICE FOR CLEANING GLASS OR LIKE SURFACESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various devices are utilized for the purposeof applying a hot cleaning fluid to surfaces such as windowpanes and,among such devices, are mechanisms for atomizing the cleaning liquid.The application of the hot cleaning liquid as a very fine spray ormisthas the advantage that the excess of cleaning material inherent inthe application thereof by means of a stream against the window isavoided. However, the prior art devices which are adapted to apply thecleaning fluid as a hot spray or mist are of bulky, expensivemanufacture and require the utilization of a high-pressure medium forproducing the mist or spray.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION .The present invention is directed to acleaning device for windows and like surfaces which is of economical,lightweight construction and which does not require the presence of ahigh-pressure medium for effecting the niistlike application of a hotcleaning fluid against the surface to be cleaned.

Essentially, the present invention is concerned with a device of thenature above described in which a vaporizing chamber is connected to areservoir from which the cleaning fluid may bedispensed and thevaporizing chamber is provided with a heating element so that as thefluid is introduced into-the vaporizing chambenthe cleaning fluid willbe vaporized and expelled from the open end of the vaporizing chamberwhich forms the applicator nozzle. The body of the device is furtherprovided with a resilient blade or the like for the purpose of scrapingoff or removing the condensed vapor which has been applied to thesurface to be cleaned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a vertical sectiontaken through an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown in the FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken substantially along theplane of section lV-lV in FIG. 2 and showing certain internal details ofconstruction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the embodimentof the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, reference character 1 indicatesa body or casing which maybe formed in two halves which are separatedalong a vertical plane and which are joined together by suitable screws16 and 17. The body includes a depending handle portion In in the formof a pistol grip and having, on its forward side, an opening 2 throughwhich the portion 3a of a squeeze bottle 3 or reservoir for the cleaningliquid protrudes. The upper end of the squeeze bottle 3 is provided withan apertured sealing cap 11 by means of which sealing connection is madefor the tube projecting outwardly therefrom and which, as shown, extendsdownwardly within the confines of the squeeze bottle 3. The rear side ofthe handle or grip la is provided with a switch 14 which is adapted tocontrol the supply of electrical current to the device. To this end, theswitch 14 controls the flow of current from the suitable conductor 13awhich extends to a source of electrical power and which is adapted, whenthe switch 14 is closed, to energize the heating element 6 to which theelectrical conductors 13 are connected.

The heating assembly of the device includes the aforementioned heating a6 which is of cylindrical nature and which surrounds a centrallydisposed core 7 and, surrounding and encapsulating the heating elementand core is the insulating and protecting encapsulating coating or wall5.

Imbedded within the core 7 is the inner end of a vaporizing chamber 8which, as shown, is in the form of a shell having a tapered opposite endportion terminating in an opening defining a nozzle 8a at the headportion end of the body 1 where at a resilient scraper blade 15 is alsolocated, it being appreciated that the scraper blade 15 is of therequisite length or width to achieve the proper wiping or scrapingaction upon a windowpane or like surface.

Surrounding the heating assembly is the thermal insulating layer 12 andthe rearward end of the body 1 may be provided with ventilating holes 18to vent the interior of the body.

The aforementioned tube 10 projects through an opening 9 in the wall ofthe shell or vaporizing chamber 8 and discharges the cleaning liquiddirectly into the confines of the shell within that region or portionthereof which is embedded in the heat conductive core 7. Thus, inutilizing the device, the switch 14 is first closed by hand and thedevice allowed to warm up, whereafter manipulation of the protrudingportion 3a of the squeeze bottle allows the cleaning liquid to bedispensed into the hot portion of the vaporizing chamber 8 where at itis converted to vapor which issues from the nozzle as a high velocityvaporized stream which, upon striking the surface such as a windowpane,will condense to provide a uniform and fully coating film of thecleaning fluid on the surface of the windowpane. It will be appreciatedthat the cleaning fluid may be simply water or water provided withsuitable detergents therein or other fluids may be utilized as desired.In any event, it will be appreciated that the vaporizing chamber 8,being constantly in connection directly with the ambient atmosphere doesnot allow the pressure to build up to any substantial extent within theinterior of the device, allowing it to be made of lightweight andeconomical construction.

In the embodiment of the invention as is illustrated in FIGS. 24, thebody 1' of the device is once again made up of two halves which aresplit along the parting line 27 as shown in FIG. 4 so that the handleportion l'a of the device 1' is composed of the two body parts l'aa and1'a2 as shown in FIG. 4 and which are adapted to be secured together bysuitable screws 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The head portion of the device is integral with the handle portion andpresents the two split portions l ab and laa as illustrated in FIG. 4,the former of which terminates in an overhanging nose portion 26 and thetwo portions of which define a channel for clamping therewithin theblade assembly 15'. The blade assembly 15 consists preferably of a cliphaving a protruding portion l5'a and a bright portion l5'b which definesa channel within which the beaded portion 15'd of a resilient wiperblade l5'c is disposed, with the entire assembly being removably heldbetween the body portions of the device by means of a suitable screw orcam device 28.

Immediately behind the head portion of the device, as may be seen inFIG. 4, there is provided a heat conductive core 7' which preferably isof electrically nonconducting material and within which is embedded thecoiled portion 8 of the vaporizing chamber which, in this form of theinvention, is in the form of a tube having a rearward extension 10' anda forward extension which terminates in the nozzle 8'a at the underside25 of the head of the device. I

The rearwardly extending portion 10' of the vaporizing chamber extendsthrough the plug 24 which is externally threaded as indicated by thereference character 23 for interengagement with the internally threadedneck 22 of the container or reservoir 3'. The handle portion of thedevice, as is seen in FIG. 3, includes the opening 2 through which aportion of the squeeze bottle or container 3' protrudes or is accessiblefor squeezing action manually.

The heating assembly includes, in addition to the core 7 previouslydescribed, the centrally disposed heating element 6' and a secondaryheating element encompassing and surrounding the core 7 the secondaryheating element being indicated bythe reference character 19 in FIG. 4.Suitable conductors I3 extend to the two heating elements and theelectrical connection is adapted to be completed through the medium ofthe contact portion 14'a of the switch 14', the electrical conductors130 which extend to a suitable source of power extending through achannel 21 formed on the handle portion of the device as shown.

The extremity of the tube portion may be formed in the fashion of aneedle so as to pierce a closure member in the neck 22 of the container3', it being appreciated that in this embodiment of the invention, thecontainer or squeeze bottle 3' is insertable through the open rear endof the body normally to protrude slightly therefrom as indicated inFIGS. 2 and 3.

- To aid in holding the body members together, this rearward extremityof the handle portion may be surrounded by a ferrule 30.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out theobjects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as othersinherent therein. While the presently preferred embodiments of theinvention are given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes inthe details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made whichwill readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and whichare encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1 A device for cleaning surfaces such as windows, comprising incombination:

a body having a handle portion and a head portion, said head portionincluding a vapor dispensing nozzle;

a deformable reservoir for liquid disposed within said handle portion;

a vaporizing chamber within said head leading to and terminally definingsaid nozzle; and

means for heating said vaporizing chamber;

said vaporizing chamber being connected to said reservoir for receivingliquid therefrom.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 including a wiper on said headportion adjacent said nozzle.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for heatingcomprises a heat conductive core and an electrical heating element incontact therewith; said vaporizing chamber being embedded in part insaid core.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said handle portion isprovided with an opening; said reservoir being in the form of adeformable container disposed within said handle portion and protrudingpartially through said opening.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said vaporizing chamber isin the form of an elongate hollow shell embedded at one end in said coreand projecting therefrom to define a tapered nose at its other endhaving an opening providing said nozzle.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 including a conduit leading fromsaid container through said shellbeyond said core and discharging intothat portion of the shell which is embedded within said core.

7. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said vaporizing chamber isin the form of a tube leading from said reservoir and extendingtherefrom through said core to terminate at said nozzle.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said heating element extendsthrough said core; said tube being wound around said heating element.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for heatingincludes a secondary heating element surrounding said core.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said handle portion definesan axial extension of said head portion; said container being insertableinto said handle portion through that end thereof remote from said headportion and having a neck; said tube including a portion extending intosaid handle portion in registry with said neck for disposition withinsaid container.

1. A device for cleaning surfaces such as windows, comprising incombination: a body having a handle portion and a head portion, saidhead portion including a vapor dispensing nozzle; a deformable reservoirfor liquid disposed within said handle portion; a vaporizing chamberwithin said head leading to and terminally defining said nozzle; andmeans for heating said vaporizing chamber; said vaporizing chamber beingconnected to said reservoir for receiving liquid therefrom.
 2. Thedevice as defined in claim 1 including a wiper on said head portionadjacent said nozzle.
 3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmeans for heating comprises a heat conductive core and an electricalheating element in contact therewith; said vaporizing chamber beingembedded in part in said core.
 4. The device as defined in claim 3wherein said handle portion is provided with an opening; said reservoirbeing in the form of a deformable container disposed within said handleportion and protruding partially through said opening.
 5. The device asdefined in claim 4 wherein said vaporizing chamber is in the form of anelongate hollow shell embedded at one end in said core and projectingtherefrom to define a tapered nose at its other end having an openingproviding said nozzLe.
 6. The device as defined in claim 5 including aconduit leading from said container through said shell beyond said coreand discharging into that portion of the shell which is embedded withinsaid core.
 7. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said vaporizingchamber is in the form of a tube leading from said reservoir andextending therefrom through said core to terminate at said nozzle. 8.The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said heating element extendsthrough said core; said tube being wound around said heating element. 9.The device as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for heating includesa secondary heating element surrounding said core.
 10. The device asdefined in claim 9 wherein said handle portion defines an axialextension of said head portion; said container being insertable intosaid handle portion through that end thereof remote from said headportion and having a neck; said tube including a portion extending intosaid handle portion in registry with said neck for disposition withinsaid container.